Epping in Bloom 8th anniversary news

Epping in Bloom are a team of volunteers who help bring our community together.

We are a group of local Epping people who come from all walks of life. We all have a passion for nature and a love of our town and really enjoy bringing seasonal colourful flowering blooms for all to admire and often share inspiring ideas along the way.

We will be celebrating our 8th anniversary in May when we first came together as volunteers for Epping in Bloom.

Over the years we have devoted many voluntary hours to keep the community garden near Marks & Spencer looking its best throughout the seasons. We look after the barrels outside the fire station and the beds on the Tower Road green. We share our passion for growing a variety of food using organic principles on the Epping in Bloom allotment at Meadow Road where we enjoy hosting educational days and food tasting evenings. We also look after the two entrance beds outside St Margaret’s Hospital. We also help other local groups with advice and annually help plant bulbs on Esso Island with the Theydon Grove residents. We have made great friends along the way and always welcome new volunteers to join us on this wonderful journey. No experience needed and we adapt our sessions to suit all abilities and all ages. Our youngest volunteer is five years old and our oldest volunteer is 85 years old.

Ever changing artwork

We are very lucky to have two local volunteer artists Mimi and Andrew who often create amazing educational pieces for the garden such as a bug hotel, butterflies and snails to name a few. Their art brings plenty of smiles to all our visitors, especially the youngsters. They really have helped enhance the entrance and together with the flowers everything blends together so well.

Scarecrow Festival

We will be hosting our Scarecrow Festival again this year on Saturday 10th June 10am – 4pm and Sunday 11th June 11am – 3pm. Scarecrow maps will be available to collect from the community garden for just £1 during the whole weekend. This is a great family friendly event, so come along and have fun seeing all the amazing scarecrow creations that will be put outside local businesses and Epping residents’ homes.

If you would like to find out more about how you can become a volunteer team member for Epping in Bloom, email: eppinginbloom@gmail.com

By Victoria Robertson, Chairman, Epping in Bloom

The Hemnall Social Club: did you know?

• The Club was formed in 1894 as the Epping Literary & Mechanics Institute and was housed in a hut in the William Cottis & Sons Iron Foundry.

• It moved into the current building in 1908, which was paid for by Copped Hall owner Ernest Wythes.

• During World War II the Club was used as a British Restaurant.

• There was no licenced bar until 1962.

• The name was changed to the Hemnall Social Club in 1967. Other names considered were the Foxburrow Club and the Amesbury Club.

• The Club has three full-sized snooker tables, which have been in place for over 100 years.

• As well as the monthly ‘Music Den’, there is live entertainment every Saturday night.

• The Club is the home of the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal in Epping. By Cllr John Duffell